Adjustable grille

ABSTRACT

The grille has a frame which defines an air passage opening and includes a pair of opposed frame segments from which the opposite ends of a plurality of parallel spaced deflector blades are supported for pivotal movement to control the direction of air flowing through the opening. Each frame segment is provided with a channel which carries a friction member made from a relatively resilient material. Cylindrical pivot pins extending from the opposite ends of each deflector blade are pivotally received in respective coaxial apertures provided in the friction member and a wall of the channel. The apertures in the friction member are smaller than the respective pivot pins so as to provide an interference fit which frictionally restrains pivotal movement of the deflector blades. The pivot pin apertures in the friction member and the channel wall are formed in a single operation by forcing a circular punch or the like through both the friction member and the channel wall. Upon withdrawal of the punch, the resulting aperture in the friction member becomes smaller than the pivot pin because of the resilient character of the friction member.

United States Patent 11 1 Dravnieks 111 3,858,491 1451 Jan 7, 1975 1 1 ADJUSTABLE GRILLE [75] Inventor: Konstantins Dravnieks, Madison,

1211 Appl. 190.; 437,339

[521 US. c1 98/110, 49/371. 49/91,

, 98/121 R 1511 1m.c1 E06h 7/08 158] Field of Search ..9s/110,111,114,121 R,

98/121 A, 88 1-, 99.8, 40 R, 44; 165/96; 251/301, 298, 335 R; 137/601; 49/371, 74, 84; 211/60 T, 89; 138/37; 188/83 156] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 845.972 8/1960 Great Britain 98/110 Primary E.taminerMeyer Perlin Assistant Examiner'Henry C. Yuen [57] ABSTRACT The grille has a frame which defines an air passage opening and includes a pair of opposed frame segments from which the opposite ends of a plurality of parallel spaced deflector blades are supported for pivotal movement to control the direction of air flowing through the openingyEach frame segment is provided with a channel which carries a friction member made,

from a relatively resilient material. Cylindrical pivot pins extending from the opposite-ends of each detlec tor blade are pivotally received in respective coaxial apertures provided in the friction member and a wall of the channel. The apertures in the friction member are smaller than the respective pivot pins so as to provide an interference fit which frictionally restrains pivotal movement of the deflector blades. The pivot pin apertures in the friction member and the channel wall are formed in a single operation by forcing a circular punch or the like through both the friction member and the channel wall. Upon withdrawal of the punch, the resulting aperture in the friction member becomes smaller than the pivot pin because of the resilient character of the friction member.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE GRILLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to air distribution systems and, more particularly, to adjustable grilles for air supply and/or return ducts of air distribution systems.

Air distribution systems typically include grilles in the air supply and/or return ducts for controlling the direction of the air flow. These grilles usually consist of the rectangular frame and a plurality of deflector bars or blades which extend between and are pivotally mounted on opposed frame segments so they can be adjustably pivoted to provide the desired direction of air flow. So-called single deflection grilles have one set of deflector blades which extend either horizontally or vertically and double deflection grilles include two sets of deflector blades, one set which extends either horizontally or vertically and a second set which is located 90 to the first set.

In one prior art construction, the deflector blades include a pivot pin at each end. During assembly, these pivot pins are inserted into corresponding preformed apertures provided in the opposed frame segments. As part of final assembly, a suitable means for frictionally restraining pivotal movement of the deflector blades is installed on the outer ends of the pivot pins. For example, a spring wire which is woven between the ends of the pivot pins or an apertured plastic strip which is pushed over the outer ends of the pivot pins is used for this purpose. In the former case, the installation of the spring wire requires considerable time. In the latter a pivot pin.

case, separate manufacturing steps are usually employed for forming the pivot pin holes in the frame segments and the plastic strip.

SUMMARY OETHE INVENTION One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an adjustable grille for an air distribution system which is simple in construction and can be conveniently assembled with a minimum number of operations. I

The grille provided by the invention includes a frame assembly which is arranged to define an air passage opening and a plurality of parallel spaced blades disposed in that opening. The deflector blades are supported at their opposite ends from an opposed pair of frame segments for pivotal movement to control the direction of flow through the opening. Each frame segment includes a wall means spaced from the air passage opening for pivotally supporting the outermost end portions of respective pivot pins extending from the opposite ends of each of the deflector blades. Each frame segment carries a friction member which is made from a relatively resilient material and is interposed the wall means and the air passage opening. The friction member includes a plurality of apertures which receive respective pivot pins and tightly engage the pivot pins to thereby frictionally restrain pivotal movement of the deflector blades. Coaxial apertures for receiving a pivot pin can be formed in both the friction member and the wall means with a single operation by forcing a hole forming means such as a punch or the like, through both the friction member and the wall means. Upon withdrawal of the hole forming means, the resilient character of the friction member causes the resultant aperture formed therein to shrink to a size smaller than the pivot pin so that an interference fit-.is provided for Preferably, the frame segments include an inner flange that defines a portion of the air passage opening and outer flange which extends outwardly and generally perpendicularly from the inner flange and the wall means comprises a portion of a channel which is arranged to carry a friction member. The inner flange can include an elongated, longitudinally extending slot which is located adjacent the friction member and through which the pivot pins extend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable grille embodying various of the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentaryiview of the grille illustrated in FIG. 1, shown installed in an air supply duct. FIGS. 35 are enlarged fragmentary views illustrating the simultaneous formation of a pivot pin hole in a frame segment and a friction member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will be described in conjunction with the single deflection grille mounted in an air supply duct for an air conditioning system. Supply duct work and related equipment can be of conventional design so it will not be illustrated or described in detail. The air supply duct terminates at wall openings in which a grille is located to control the direction of air being discharged into the room being air conditioned. It should be appreciated that the invention is also adaptable for double deflection supply grilles, as well as return grilles and registers.

Referring to FIG. 1, the grille 10 includes a frame assembly 12 comprised of opposed pairs of frame segments l4 and 16 having outer flanges l8 and 20, respectively. While the grille 10 is illustrated in a horizontal position, in actual practice, it is usually installed in a vertical position with the outer faces of the outer flanges 18 and 20 externally exposed to the room.

Extending generally perpendicularly from the inner edges of the outer flanges l8 and 20 are respective inner flanges 22 and 24 which, upon assembly of the frame segments 14 and 16, define an interior rectangular air passage opening 26. The ends of the frame segments l4 and 16 are mitered in the usual manner and the frame segments are firmly connected together in abutting relation to form a tight mitered joint by a suitable fastening means (not shown).

The inner flanges 22 and 24 fit inside the terminal end of an air supply duct 28 (one side wall of which is shown fragmentarily) and the outer flanges l8'and 20 fit against the wall 30 surrounding the wall opening (FIG. 2). Suitable means (not shown) is provided for attaching the frame assembly 12 to the wall 30. In order to prevent leakage of conditioned air between the wall 30 and the frame assembly 12, a sealing member (not shown) is usually positioned in sealing engagement between the outer flanges 18 and 20 and the wall 30.

A plurality of transversely extending deflector blades 1 32, positioned in parallel spaced relation within the air passage opening 26, serve to control the direction of air flowing from the supply duct 28 into the room being air conditioned. Extending outwardly from the opposite ends of each deflector blade 32 are cylindrical pivot pins 34. In practice, the pivot pins 34 usually consistof a single rod or tubular member suitably affixed to one edge of the deflector blade 32. The pivot pins 34 are pivotally mounted on a respective frame segment 14 so that the deflector blades 32 can be adjustably pivoted to the angular position required to provide the desired direction of air flow from the duct 28 into the room being conditioned.

For this purpose, each frame segment 14 includes a first wall member 40 which extends generally perpendicularly from the backside 42 of the outer flange l8 in spaced relation to the inner flange 22 and a second wall member 44 which extends generally perpendicularly from the inner flange 22 in spaced relation to the outer flange 18. The wall members 40 and 44 are connected at their outer extremities and cooperate with a portion 48 of the outer flange 18 and portions 50 of the inner flange 22 to define an elongated channel 52 which extends longitudinally along the length of.the framesegment 14. Provided in each frame segment 14 is an elongated slot 54 whichopens into the channel 52 and extends longitudinally along the length of th frame segment 14. r I

Located in each channel 52 for frictionally engaging each of the respective pivot pins 34 and thereby restraining pivotal movement of each deflector blade 32 is a friction member 56 made from a relatively resilient material. While the friction member 56 can be fabricated by various techniques from the variety of materials, it is preferably extruded from a synthetic plastic material, such as polyethlyne.

The outer end portions of each of the pivot pins 34 extend through the slot 54 of the respective frame segment l4 and through corresponding, coaxial apertures 58 and 60 provided in the friction member 56 and the wall member 40, respectively. A relatively tight interference or friction fit exists between each of the apertures 58 in the friction member 56 and the corresponding pivot pin 34. The apertures 60 in the wall member 40 are large enough to prevent. substantially unrestricted pivotal movement of the pivot pins 34. The apertures 58 and 60 are formed during a single operation as will now be described.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, an unapertured friction member 56 is installed into channel 52 (FIG. 3). A suitable hole forming device,- such as a' punch 62, having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pivot pins 34 is inserted through the slot 54 and forced through both the friction member 56 and the wall member 40 to form coaxial apertures 58 and 60 therein (FIG. 4). When the punch 62 is retracted, the aperture 58 formed in the friction member 56 shrinks, i.e., the diameter becomes less than the outer diameter of the punch 62, because of the resilientnature of the friction member 56 (FIG. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the resultant aperture 58 in the friction member 56 is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the pivot pin 34.

When the deflector blades 32 and the frame segments 14 are assembled together, the pivot pins 34 are pivotally supported in the apertures 60 in the .wall member 40 and there is an interference fit between the pivot pins 34 and the apertures 58 in the friction member 56. This interference fit provides sufficient friction to retain the deflector blades 32 at a desired angular position relative to the direction of flow through the air passage opening 26 and yet permits the deflector blades to be manually pivoted, about the transverse axis defined by the pivot pins 34, to various other angular positions. In the specific construction illustrated, the deflector blades 32 are pivoted individually. lf desired, suitable means can be provided for interconnecting the deflector blades 32 so they can be gang operated.

When a double deflection capability is desired, the frame segments 16 are arranged in substantially the same manner as the frame segments 14 except the slots 54, the friction members 56 and the apertures 58 and 60 are appropriately positioned to accommodate the installation of a second tier of deflector blades 32 which is positioned above or below and to the illus trated tier of deflector blades.

From the above description, it can be seen that this invention provides a simply arranged adjustable grille which can be conveniently assembled with a minimum number of operations. The pivot pin apertures can be provided in both the frame segments and the friction member by a single operation instead of the separate operations usually required with prior art constructions. The time consumingtask of installing an apertured plastic strip over the outer ends of the pivot pins as part of the final assembly is eliminated. Also, after the frame segments 14 and deflector blades 32 are assembled together, there is no need for using a retaining means, such as push nuts on the outer ends of the pivot pins, to temporarily hold this sub-assembly together until the frame segments 14 and 16 are connected together, as often as the case with prior art constructions. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various alter ations and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim': v. 1. An adjustable grille for an air distribution system comprising a frame defining an air passage opening and including a pair of opposed framesegments;

each of said frame segments including an inner flange defining a portion of said opening, an outer flange extending outwardly and generally perpendicularly from said inner flange, and means defining an elongated channel extending longitudinally substantially along the length of said frame segment, said channel defining means including an elongated slot in said inner flange extending longitudinally substantially along the length of said inner flange and an elongated wall member extending generally perpendicularly from said outer flange in spaced relation to said inner flange;

said wall member including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in alignment with said slot; an elongated friction member formed from a resilient material disposed in each of said channels and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures coaxially aligned with respective of said wall member apertures, the outer dimension of said friction member apertures being smaller than the outer dimension of said wall member apertures;

a plurality of parallel spaced deflector blades disposed in said opening and extending between said frame segments, each of said deflector blades including pivot pin means extending from the opposite end thereof; and

each of said pivot pin means extending through respective of said slots and respective of said aligned friction member apertures and wall member apertures and having an outer dimension substantially corresponding to the outer dimension of said wall member apertures and larger than the outer dimension of said friction member aperture such that said wall member pivotally supports said pivot pin means for relative pivotal movement of said deflector blades, and the walls of said friction member apertures tightly engage respective of said pivot pin means to restrain pivotal movement of said deflector blades and thereby retain said deflector blades in a desired angular position.

2. An adjustable grille according to claim 1 wherein said pivot pin means are cylindrically shaped;

said friction member apertures are circular and have an inside diameter less than the outer diameter of pivot pin means and;

said wall member apertures are circular and have an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said friction member apertures.

3. In a method for assembling an adjustable grille including an opposed pair of frame segments and a plurality of deflector blades, each of which extends between said frame segments and include pivot pin means on the opposite ends thereof for pivotally mounting said deflector blades on said frame segments, compris- 6 ing the steps of:

forming an elongated friction member from a relatively resilient material for each of said frame segments;

forming each of said frame segments with an elongated channel for receiving a friction member, said channel locating said friction member so that said pivot pin means extend therethrough upon assembling said deflector blades with said frame segments and said channel including a wall member adaptable for receiving end portions of the respective pivot pin means;

installing a friction member in each of said channels;

and

forming coaxial apertures in said friction members and said wall members for receiving respective said pivot pins means by forcing a hole forming means having an outer dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of said pivot pin means through both said friction member and said wall member, whereby, upon withdrawal of said hole forming means from said well member and said friction member, the inner dimension of the resulting apertures in said friction members is less than the outer dimension of said pivot pin means because of the resilient character of said friction member. 

1. An adjustable grille for an air distribution system comprising a frame defining an air passage opening and including a pair of opposed frame segments; each of said frame segments including an inner flange defining a portion of said opening, an outer flange extending outwardly and generally perpendicularly from siad inner flange, and means defining an elongated channel extending longitudinally substantially along the length of said frame segment, said channel defining means including an elongated slot in said inner flange extending longitudinally substantially along the length of said inner flange and an elongated wall member extending generally perpendicularly from said outer flange in spaced relation to said inner flange, said wall member including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in alignment with said slot; an elongated friction member formed from a resilient material disposed in each of said channels and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures coaxially aligned with respective of said wall member apertures, the outer dimension of said friction member apertures being smaller than the outer dimension of said wall member apertures; a plurality of parallel spaced deflector blades disposed in said opening and extending between said frame segments, each of said deflector blades including pivot pin means extending from the opposite end thereof; and each of said pivot pin means extending through respective of said slots and respective of said aligned friction member apertures and wall member apertures and having an outer dimension substantially corresponding to the outer dimension of said wall member apertures and larger than the outer dimension of said friction member aperture such that said wall member pivotally supports said pivot pin means for relative pivotal movement of said deflector blades, and the walls of said friction member apertures tightly engage respective of said pivot pin means to restrain pivotal movement of said deflector blades and thereby retain said deflector blades in a desired angular position.
 2. An adjustable grille according to claim 1 wherein said pivot pin means are cylinDrically shaped; said friction member apertures are circular and have an inside diameter less than the outer diameter of pivot pin means and; said wall member apertures are circular and have an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said friction member apertures.
 3. In a method for assembling an adjustable grille including an opposed pair of frame segments and a plurality of deflector blades, each of which extends between said frame segments and include pivot pin means on the opposite ends thereof for pivotally mounting said deflector blades on said frame segments, comprising the steps of: forming an elongated friction member from a relatively resilient material for each of said frame segments; forming each of said frame segments with an elongated channel for receiving a friction member, said channel locating said friction member so that said pivot pin means extend therethrough upon assembling said deflector blades with said frame segments and said channel including a wall member adaptable for receiving end portions of the respective pivot pin means; installing a friction member in each of said channels; and forming coaxial apertures in said friction members and said wall members for receiving respective said pivot pins means by forcing a hole forming means having an outer dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of said pivot pin means through both said friction member and said wall member, whereby, upon withdrawal of said hole forming means from said well member and said friction member, the inner dimension of the resulting apertures in said friction members is less than the outer dimension of said pivot pin means because of the resilient character of said friction member. 